My father, Andrew James Scalf, had a great sense of humor. He could find something humorous in almost all situations. Thus, it didn't surprise me that a friend who wrote to my mother after he was killed said that the last time he saw my dad was during the Battle of the Bulge, and even then... he still had a smile on his face and found some humor in something that they had spoken of.

He and my mother fell in love in school. They were married very young and had a baby soon after, ME. I am an only child because of the war. I read letters from my dad that he wanted lots more children. I also read that he loved me very much and thought that I was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

My dad loved playing baseball. His dad had played in a semi-pro league in California and his wish for his son was to play professional baseball. My dad's only sister died when he was young and I have the feeling that he had a lot of pressure put upon him because he became the only child....and he felt that he had to come through with the dreams that his parents originally had for two children.

Dad was the truest of volunteers because he volunteered twice for the military. First he volunteered for the army in October of 1942. His training was done in Ft. Stewart, GA. Soon he and the 455th AAA were on THE QUEEN ELIZABETH heading for England by way of Scotland. He mentioned so many times that if the war weren't going on....he would be having the greatest of times seeing the world.

When General Patton asked for more volunteers to go to the front lines... my dad left the 455th AAA and went with the 137th Infantry, 35th Division. He said in a letter that something had to be done to stop the madness of Hitler and he was going to try to do all in his power to stop him. Unfortunately, it was his end too.

This past year, I met a man who told me that he had seen my picture on my dad's footlocker many times. He said, "your dad was so proud of you and showed your picture to everyone." He said, "I remember that you were wearing a cute little sailor dress in that picture." It is in a frame in my house today.

I always had a major hole in my heart from missing out on having a dad. I never talked about him, didn't know much about him, didn't even know how old he would have been, or when his birthday was until I traveled to Margraten and walked straight to his grave. The rest of the story is now I can't stop finding out about him now. I almost feel that I've just met him in the last two years... and I know that if he were alive today.. . we would not only be father and daughter, but the best of friends. I have found out from his friends that I am so much like him in looks and in temperament. So, I suppose that he probably felt the same as I do on many things.

I just wish that I had just one little memory of him.... like how he sounded when he laughed.... or just anything. I miss him so much and will always miss him.